Sunday, January 31, 2010

bridger bowl



Over 150 years ago, a mountain man by the name of James “Jim” Bridger traversed the Western United States, trapping, guiding, and exploring new territory. His trail blazing eventually led him through what is now known as the Bridger Mountain Range. Among the many recreational opportunities that the mountain has to offer, the Bridger Bowl ski resort stands out as a local hot spot.

Skiing enthusiasts have been testing the terrain since the 1940’s, but it wasn’t until 1955 that the ski resort opened to the public. Since that time, the relationship between MSU and the ski resort has continually blossomed. As in all good relationships, there is a quintessential balance of give and take to endure a long lasting enjoyment.

Over one hundred thousand dollars have been donated to the MSU ski team since its opening and almost sixty thousand dollars since 1995 alone. Being a non-profit community area, Bridger ski resort has undoubtedly extended itself, creating a healthy alliance with the campus. In addition, the ski lift ticket prices are affordable, with some of the lowest you will find anywhere.

The terrain offers a variety of landscapes, including open bowls, long slopes, chutes, gullies, glades, tree skiing, and a terrain park with two different lines. With 2000 acres of rideable terrain, 71 trails, and 2700 feet of vertical rise, there is ample exploration and playtime for the taking. If you have some expertise behind your belt, the new Schlasman’s chairlift will take you up 1700 vertical feet and add 311 acres to your riding repertoire. This ridge terrain provides some challenging natural features, including steep chutes, rock cliffs, and snowfields which may potentially end in unmarked cliffs. Anybody that is planning on partaking in this ridge riding should plan on packing an avalanche transceiver, a partner, a shovel…and some serious riding ability.

If you have a knack for finessing the slopes, there are all types of competitive events being held at Bridger Bowl that you may enjoy watching or participating in. Events such as the Alpine and Telemark Community Race Series held in January, where racers of all ages dualed in downhill timed runs.

February has some solid competitions in the works as well. The Bridger Gully Free Ride is popping off on the 21st, all disciplines welcome. This free riding event takes place on naturally featured terrain just off of Bridger ridge and will be judged on a variety of criteria. If the terrain park is more your speed, the following weekend offers the Terrain Park Jam, which is a slope style competition and Jam session. There will be 2 judged runs on the slopestyle event plus 2 jam sessions on jumps, rails, and boxes. Saturday caters to snowboarders and Sunday is for skiers. $10 gets you into the event with the award ceremony to follow at Jim Bridger Lodge. For more information, go to www.bridgerbowl.com.

See ya on the slopes!

Sunday, January 24, 2010

sugary slopes

my first campus publication.....



Sugary Slopes
Weaving through the great outdoors of Southwestern Montana, I found myself passing creeks donning names such as ‘Moose’ and ‘Swan’. An immature bald eagle gliding effortlessly overhead and a group of mountain goats idly passing their time were just a few attractions that accompanied my Saturday morning drive.
My destination is Lone Mountain. Particularly the northern face: Moonlight Basin ski resort. I arrived, professedly green on what types of sugar the mountain had to offer. Fortunately, I was in good hands, being chauffeured around the mountain by the adult snow sports supervisor, Christo Pierce. He was able to shed some light on some of the mountain basics.
With 1900 acres of rideable terrain and a summit of 11,166 feet, the mountain boasts a landscape of groomers, a freestyle terrain park, moguls, open bowls, tree skiing, and steep chutes and gullies that could satiate most any riders appetite.
We spoke of the Headwaters, the more extreme terrain on the top of the face, accessible by hiking from the Headwaters Lift to the ridge.
The six-shooter is the primary lift at Moonlight, rising 1850 vertical feet from the base. For the more advanced terrain, you can take the Headwaters lift, which meets the top of the six-shooter and gains an additional 850 feet, marking the boundary line between Moonlight and Big Sky Resort.
Incessantly gobbling up these bits of information was overshadowing my skiing, apparently, and it was suggested that I put my notepad down and work on my feeble turns. With my pride at stake, I spent the next hour, as instructed, stretching my turns out like “salt water taffy.” And low and behold, a graceful fluidity emerged from hiding. Achieved by a metaphorical three little words of instruction: salt water taffy.
Besides the breathtaking views and the equally alluring terrain, Moonlight Basin offers a plethora of events on a regular basis. On Saturday, Feb. 6, Moonlight Basin is hosting the Peanut Butter and Rail Jam, the 8th stop of Volcom’s amateur snowboard tour and Volcum’s only stop in Montana! The layout of the event is freshly formatted, with three rails dug side-by-each to create a single large rail zone. The event is absolutely free! There are a bounty of prizes, free PB&J sandwiches, and a free Volcom PBRJ shirt just for entering! You can sign up the day of the event at the Madison Village Base Area or at www.volcom.com. Note: space is limited to 200 contestants and fills up quickly so don’t wait!
Hope to see you there! I will be the girl transitioning my ski moves to that of a piece of candy.

Friday, January 22, 2010

reflection paper

Reflection Paper #1, question # 2
The Science of Psychological Well Being
I love the analogy used at the beginning of this article, The Wise Heart. The article compares a golden Buddha, masked in clay…that has weathered many storms, political changes, and invading armies. Finally the clay cracks, to reveal the golden “noble self.” I desperately, no…more like vehemently believe that we are all good and possess this “nobility” within ourselves. This buddhanature.
I think we have a tendency to enclose or mask ourselves. We are prone to hide our true selves, our true nature, our true raw beings. It is unfortunate. That we have gotten to the point of cowering under the shadow of our true selves by lavishly decorating with “shoulds have’s” and “should be’s.” Wanting approval so badly, but ironically, a false bottomed approval. A happiness imposter looms over our heads and beckons us to jump through these hoops. Hoops comprised of artificial, temporary, society fed garbage, only leaving you with an unquenched thirst.
It is so easy for me to say these things, but I find myself in the midst of the madness. Honestly, I have been reading a lot of literature lately about enlightenment. About healthy living, spiritually. It has helped me monumentally. My attitude HAS shifted subtly. However, I still find myself judging others…almost innately it seems sometimes. And I know that I am judged as well. I can feel it.
I suppose recognition is a great stepping stone. Upon recognizing the injustice of judgemental behaviors, I begin to think a bit more clearly. That people, behind the façade, behind the decorative display…are really just like myself. And I love that we should be respectful of this with everyone we meet each day. That we should take time to inquire and learn about the real products offered instead of merely window shopping.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

The Wise Heart

i have begun my final semester in school. *leaps of joy*
there is this new adjunct professor, brand spankin new. her name is louise. she's from boston. she is into clinical psychology. anyways, she is teaching her first class here in bozeman, entitled.."the science of psychological well-being."
so, i basically adore her. she just emanates raw natural beauty. i find myself just enamored completely with the lightness in which she teaches....so gracious and beautiful.

so she has assigned some "light reading." aside from the 5 thick books required in her class. all material that i am greatly anticipating diving into.

one of the readings is called, 'the wise heart.'

so i figured i may divulge my thoughts on the article, much like a literature review.

The Wise Heart
Article by Jack Kornfield
Interpreted by myself

"O Nobly Born, O you of glorious origins, remember your radiant true nature, the essence of mind. Trust it. Return to it. It is home.
~The Tibetan Book of the Dead

The analogy used in the opening paragraphs attempt to illuminate the topic at hand. Where a golden buddha is unearthed, masked in unappealing clay. The golden buddha beneath was unmasked by a crack made in the clay. The outside clay mask endured hundreds of years of storms, political shifts, invading armies and so on. This golden buddha is compared, by Jack Kornfield, as representative of our (human race) covering our innate nobility. Covering our true nature and noble selves up with a barrier that weathers the storms of the day. taking cover from the storm.

The primary aim of Buddhist psychology is to help us see beneath this armoring and bring out our orignial goodness, called our buddhanature.

the goal here, finding our wholeness and freedom. the radical life changes that could happen if only we werent so identified with limitations and impoverishment.

to allow our noble selves to shine involves finding the dignity in others, their suffering to be acknowledged.

ways in which this can be done is by imagining that person as a small child, innocent.
by moving forward in time and visualizing the person at the end of their life, lying on their deathbed, vulnerable, open, with nothing to hide.
Or seeing the person as a fellow wayfarer, struggling with burdens, wanting happiness like everyone else.

that everyone has goodness to be touched and felt.

we tend to, as a westernized culture, to give credence to disease and ailments. foucusing on pathology, the DSM (diangostic and statistical manual of mental disorders) focusing on what is WRONG with the individual...we give so much attention to our protective layers of fear, depression, confusion, and aggression, that we forget who we really are.

I LOVE THIS PART...
As psychology becomes more pharmacologically orientated, this medical model is reinforced!!!!! quick fix...pop a pill. whoooeeee. looking to a little pill as the answer to confusion and suffering. in children as well.

INNER FREEDOM: LIBERATION OF THE HEART
what is the alternative to focusing on limitations and pathology?
freedom.
"Just as the great oceans have but one taswte, the taste of salt, so do all of the teachings of Buddha have but one taste, the taste of liberation."

The possibility of freeing oneself from the entanglement of unhealthiness.

Awakening this inner freedom of spirit is the purpose of the hundreds of Buddhist practices and trainings. Recognizing and letting go of unhealthy patterns that create suffering....and develop healthy patterns in their place. Instead of a sit down therapy...it is practices, daily. and training and disciplines that return us to our innate wisdoms and compassions....and freedoms.

The admiration of others is saintly.

Each time we meet other human beings and honor their dignity, we help those around us.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

still reverberating after my holidays.
echoing from the inside out.
lots of stimmmmmuli to appease the senses. to tease my sensibleness.

it was all of lovely.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

moonlight basin




so i have this new and amazing gig....i negotiatied myself free skiing at bridger, bigsky, and moonlight ski resorts here in bozeman in exchange for exposure in photography and columns in the msu campus paper, the exponent.


so, today i headed up to moonlight to meet with their marketing director, skis in tow of course.




she handed me a department season pass.

heck yeah.

she scattered all sorts of upcoming events being held in moonlight, we swapped contact information and upcoming issue ideas.....and that was that

sweet.

i was given a little moonlight tour, they have no actual 'base lodge', but they have a cafeteria, bar, and ski and ticket information...there is a moonlight lodge located a little farther up the mountain however. the lodge is pretty posh, fine dining, no getting sloppy here though.





i was told that i would be getting a mountain guide to show me around lone mountain, which is when i met christo pierce. he is the adult snow sports supervisor...aka he runs the ski school. so he was my tour guide/meet and greet guy/and ski instructor for the day. pretty much took me under his wing and showed me the ins and outs of the development, finances, growth statistics...even as far as divulging in how much a single chair left weighs. 1000 pounds. a little too much information, but ok.


christo! he rocked~ i wasn't expecting a ski instructor at all, especially a 33 year ski instructor veteran, albeit i desperately needed one!
tip #1...make your turns like salt water taffy.
tip #2...lean in on your left big toe when making a right. right big toe when making a left.
tip #3...keep the tops of my poles at my bottom peripheral.
tip #4...bend my ankles.
tip #5...there is a momentum that you harness



we skied all over, i took photos, and by the end of the day, i felt i had drastically improved. upon which he said he wants to make me his "ski project." i must really need it if i am referred to as a "project."
project=an undertaking requiring concerted effort.
i feel belittled and honored simultaneously. :)

a few of my highlights...

meeting martin bell, a 4 X olympic downhill skiing competitor...



halos..


woofer...



and amazing views





Sunday, January 10, 2010

hyalite

today was full of wonder.
starting off with this little character bombing around my head like some sort of heat seeking missile.



off to hyalite!


a good day for horse play...
hi jen!



armed with multiple layers, trusty snowshoes, snacks, and....the dog. beuford




come to find out, beuford is a snob. the only way beuford will give you the time of day is if you are a cat, in which case he may kill you..or if you are a sassy playful dog...or a very large dog. other than that, ya got nothin with ol beuford.



there was alot of people out today, ice fishing, ice climbing, skiing, hiking, you name it. we even saw a bear and a moose! no, thats not true. not even close.



conversation spanned topics such as costa rica, guadalahara, being in our primes, home grown food, homeade soymilk (not worth the time), the nonsensicalness of militant gurus, restaurant drama, transparent people, makeup, lip rings, california, blondies, gardening naked, hippies (proper meaning of the word), marijuana, simplicity, success (happiness in simplicity), female comradery, boys, serendipitous moments, younger brothers, backpacking, graduation...

and on and on.



my toes froes...i mean toze froze...wait, toes froze...there we go. then they thawed...





sunday funday

Saturday, January 9, 2010

raven

its funny how
you know the way the eggs will slide down the pan and over the olive ghosts
because of the homes peculiar gate rhythmic in stride
with the earth like the moon's tides, pulling, pushing, the ocean.
and how and when and where , you are going to have to catch them
with the spatula, its funny how
you flip them, and rememer how you were wearing an orange coat
and she walked in like a sunrise
and commented on what that particular color
had meant to her that day. its funny how you dreamt of red unbridled horses that night, and
mazzy star notes, and iron.
its funny how you know the exact angle of the pan on the stove
and what will happen next.
its something how she says
laughing fully and sweetly into the out loud
that she would sell her body
on a street corner
to be Leonard Cohens groupie, and its realy funny how, at that moment, you are like, damn! I wish i was Leonard Cohen.
Its funny how neighbors here greet eachother warmly,
both as the pears drop with sugar weight and sometimes
land on the unforeseen.
Its actually not funny, it is sweet, like pear sugar.
my mother juices them and calls it ambrosia. by the lake.
back home.
and its sweet how neighbors here also greet eachother in the spring,
when the pears are babytides of blossoms. honeybees snicker in
curiousity....and they probably giggle and tickle eachother,
a little bit, its funny how much you love her and think about her.
and wonder about that particular angle of the earth
and if it was just slightly gaited more to the stride of.... of some wild horse
you, you know, maybe?
love and then more love to you sweet one.
you really mean alot to me. sunshine.
its funny how you know that you could live fully good and kind, though mischievious at the right moments, for that girl that means the world to you.
sweet dreams. starlit snuggles.
god i miss you.
-poem by raven stevens

Sunday, January 3, 2010

blue baby

i am finally settled back into my cozy lil apt., post vacation. the highlight of the trip was my nephew caleb being born. he came into the world on 12-31-2009, our little blue moon baby.


my sister, maia, was spectacular. spectacular from the way that she handled her pregnacy to the strength she embodied while delivering. i couldn't be more in awe of her, honestly.



we had all been discussing how great it would be to have a baby born on the blue moon....the second full moon of december, the thirteenth full moon of the year, basically the extra full moon. maias doctor gave her the option of being induced at midnight on new years eve. she leapt to that opportunity like a hungry tigress.



the 'crew' that accompanied maia to the hospital included myself, leo, tony (daddy), and mom.


we show up at midnightish...


when maia showed up, the nurses started standard protocol...hooking up IV's, monitoring babys heart beat, and maias contractions. when we arrived, maia was 3 centimeters dilated and almost completely ephased. almost immediately after the patocin was started, maia's contractions increased in intensity and duration. her body was very sensitive to the hormone.




grandma was constantly monitoring the reports...


and passing time on the medicine ball...


waiting.....


welcome caleb aiden john galossi


he was a little blue. his first apgar was 7, second was 8, due to coloration.
but healthy, toes and fingers and all else in the proper position.

swaddled and cleaned, let the comedic relationship begin....


and the kisses....lots of kisses to come...


grandpa checkin out his first grandson


7 pounds 4 ounces